FRONTIERS OF ZOOLOGYDale A. Drinnon has been a researcher in the field of Cryptozoology for the past 30+ years and has corresponded with Bernard Heuvelmans and Ivan T. Sanderson. He has a degree in Anthropology from Indiana University and is a freelance artist and writer. Motto: "I would rather be right and entirely alone than wrong in the company with all the rest of the world"--Ambroise Pare', "the father of modern surgery", in his refutation of fake unicorn horns.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Support for Eastern Bigfoot Identity

A Friend of mine on Facebook and a Follower on this blog sent me a link to some of David Claerr's articles saying that the two of us were saying pretty much the same thing. I have written to David asking for permission to run the articles but have not heard back yet, but hopefully he shall appreciate the fact that we have independantly both come up with the same answer. These are coming here by way of the Bigfoot Lunch Club and I am reprinting them here without additional comment. All text and images are copyrighted by David Claerr and reprinted here under the spirit of Fair Use and no attempt is being made to claim ownership or to defraud him of his intellectual property rights in any way.

Bigfoot Bones: Sasquatch Skeleton Analyzed and Compared to Human

Sasquatch Skeletal Anatomy Related to Body Kinetics and Motion

As this article is being written, there are some significant scientific efforts that are expected to be published in the near future, particularly in the field of DNA sequencing, that will provide exceptional evidence to help verify the existence of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot as a living species of hominid. Preliminary reports suggest that they may be more closely related to humans than any of the other "great apes" or higher primates, such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas or orangutans, perhaps even related to or within the direct lineage that resulted in modern humans. The purpose of this essay is to lay a groundwork for analysis of the structural anatomy, based on current evidence both from still and video imagery as well as what may be the actual physical, skeletal remains that have been exhumed in a few rare instances. (The important images accompanying this article can be enlarged by selecting them by the numbers and then clicking directly on the image.) In the course of both my independent and collaborative research of the Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, I have had the very good fortune to have access to collected evidence that is not available to the general public, and that in some cases, is either copyright protected or, by request, kept confidential pending further verification. I have been able to perform analysis and biometric measurements of cast prints of hands and feet as well as photometric measurements of skeletal remains of images from still and video footage. In addition, in my travels, I have been able to view physical hominin skeletal remains of indeterminate origin that are in excess of 8 feet tall.
As a visual presentation to aggregate the findings of this research, I have constructed 3d models based on the measurements of skeletal proportions, individual bone lengths, and the angles and incidences of bone joints and linkage. (Note that the images are copyright protected and may not be reproduced online or in print without express permission.) The comparisons in the four images above are of a 5'7" human to an 8" Sasquatch

From a strictly scientific viewpoint, these 3D reconstructions are hypothetical until an actual type specimen is ether verified from existing remains or from a newly discovered specimen. However, I do believe they are generally accurate, and future research will likely either confirm, supplant, or refine in the structural details. Since this article is intended for the general public, the following observations are a general summation of my research.
A Sasquatch or Bigfoot apparently has a similar bone structure to humans. The main differences are in the proportions. The Sasquatch is much larger and more robust than the average human. The skeletal frame is also both wider and deeper than the human, by proportion. Individual bones have proportionately wider ends at the joints, and a larger diameter per length. The bone wall thickness is also likely greater in proportion to that of humans. Some other notable differences, reported by innumerable eyewitnesses, are the apparent length of the arms, the high set of the shoulders, short neck and the coned cranium or skull.
In regards to the arm length, the total measure includes the hand and fingers. In the Sasquatch, the arms, hand and fingers reach below mid-thigh in an erect stance. While in motion, a Sasquatch or Bigfoot has a bent-legged, forward-leaning stance (discussed further below) wherein the arms may appear to reach the knees. An average human's arms reach to a point nearly at mid-thigh. The hand and wrist-bones of a Sasquatch, according to my analysis, are larger and longer in proportion to a human's. The longer hand and wrist plus, slightly longer (proportionately) bones of the upper and lower arm account for the difference.
Regarding the high shoulder girdle: A Sasquatch has wide and muscular shoulders that are supported by a robust group of muscles and tendons. The neck vertebra of a Sasquatch are proportionately wider and shorter than a human. Another apparent and interesting feature of the Sasquatch skull is an area at the base, in the back, where there are pronounced flattened semi-circular planes, bordered by re-enforced ridges, where the proportionately enlarged trapesius and related muscles are connected.(The "squama occipitalus" is the anatomical term. The trapesius group is also attached below at the shoulder blades or scapula, and along the spine). This overall structure, found to a lesser extent in extreme body-builder humans, accounts for part of the incredible upper-body strength of the Sasquatch.
The coned cranium is indicative of at least a few functional capabilities. Although the muscles of the jaw do not connect near the very top of the cranium (according to my own field observations) the positioning of the jaw muscle-to-skull connections is likely both higher and wider on the skull proportionately to humans. The coning of the cranium makes a very strong support structure for both the trapesius connections and the robust jaw muscles. According to the best evidence I have, it appears the Sasquatch does not have a pronounced "saggital crest" as gorillas do. In fact, many sightings report significantly less-coned craniums in specific individuals. An explanation of the individual structural differences over large geographic areas may be due to the currently debated premise that Sasquatch may have the capability to cross-breed with humans. (This idea may have some some merit. For more discussion on this issue refer to the links in the Resources section below.) The jawbones of a Sasquatch are wider, thicker and deeper than those of a human, again in both proportion and size. The chin is thus closer in relation to the chest, and little of the neck can be seen from a frontal view. The eye sockets are also proportionately larger and rounder, perhaps due to an adaptation to low-light or nocturnal activity cycles.
The proportional length of the Sasquatch legs, compared to humans, appears to be only slightly shorter to equal in relation to the height. The individual bones have the wider joint-ends and larger diameters, a well as more robust supports for tendon-to-muscle connections. Sasquatch are prodigious travelers, capable of walking great distances and running at high speeds in sprints. However, the feet are evidently proportionately longer, thicker and wider than those of humans. Another interesting and notable feature of the Sasquatch feet is an increased range of flexibility in the "arch" of the foot. Humans characteristically have a somewhat rigid foot, with inflexible bone joints tightly bound by ligaments and connective tissue. I concur with the research of Drs. Grover Krantz and D. Jeffrey Melrdum, who posit a "Mid-Tarsal Break" or flexible bone joints in the middle section of the foot. I have also observed this feature in cast prints from my geographical areas of research in Texas and surrounding states. (see related articles listed in the Resource section below)
At this point I would like to present some observations on Sasquatch body kinetics, related to the ability to move about in natural environments. Despite their significant bulk and height, healthy Sasquatch are remarkably agile. The wide hip structure and in-ward angling bones of the upper legs provide a stable yet maneuverable support for the torso. And what appears to some to be a slouching posture is actually a forward-leaning tilt of the spine that lends constant forward momentum while walking. This is an energy-conserving aspect of their striding walk. (The spine of a Sasquatch is also straighter in profile, compared to a human's which has more of an "S" shaped curvature, viewed from the side.)
When walking, the Sasquatch also swings its arms significantly more than an average human. This provides a counter-balance to the long strides of the legs, and, with a forward thrust of the fore-arms and hands, additional forward momentum.
On the forward stride of the leg, the Sasquatch knee remains bent, unlike most humans, who tend to straighten the leg at maximum forward extension. The bent-knee stride is perhaps an adaptation to traveling in rough, uneven and often wet terrain. Having the knee slightly bent on impact enables a more fluid stride, allowing quick adjustments to obstacles such as rocks, holes and muddy depressions. The bent knee also provides a shock-absorbing capacity and helps minimize trips and falls.
Another well noted aspect of the Sasquatch stride is the "in-line" pattern seen in footprint tracks. This is evidence of another energy-efficient adaptation. The feet of a Sasquatch are typically held paralell, pointing straight forward, each one placed directly in front of the next. The inward angling of the upper leg bones from the hip enable the legs to swing forward for easy placement in this pattern. The feet and lower legs, as a result, travel in a narrow channel, each following the progress of the previous one. This also minimizes trips and falls due to snags on roots, stems and other obstacles, and is more efficient when traversing deep snow or fording rivers.
Resources:
Bigfoot Evidenced in Fossil Record http://voices.yahoo.com/the-origins-saquatch-bigfoot-10509269.html?cat=58

The Origins of Saquatch or Bigfoot as Evidenced in the Fossil Record

An Hypothesis that Correlates the Morphology of the Sasquatch with a Human Ancestor

In this essay, I will present an hypothesis on the origins and nature of the wilderness hominins variously known as Sasquatch, Bigfoot, and Skunk Ape in the Americas, and as the possibly related Almasty or relict humans in the Euarasian continent. For the last several years I have embarked on research and study that includes field expeditions with organized groups and independent forays on my own. I have been fortunate to not only examine evidence in the form of cast prints, hair and tissue samples, photographic and video evidence, but have also had sightings and encounters with the hominins in the field. I have also been apprised of some of the interpretation of results from current DNA sequencing, the majority of which is now public knowledge. I have presented an hypothesis on issues dealing with the DNA in a previous article, listed in the Resources section below.
In the previous hypothesis, I posited that the Sasquatch and modern Humans are significantly more closely related to each other than any of the higher primates or "great apes", and share a more common recent ancestor, that may be in the direct lineage of the genus Homo that resulted in the Neanderthal, Denisovan, Cro-magnon, and modern human. This assessment is borne out by the mitochondrial DNA which shows a close relation to that of the modern human.
In this essay, however, I am positing that there is also a close correlation of the Sasquatch to a more ancient member of the genus Homo - the family of man - based on the fossil record.
Most of the more ancient fossils of hominins and hominids are mineralized or "turned to stone" to a degree that any extraction of DNA is virtually impossible. The rather extensive and often bewildering variety of fossils are classified according to their morphology; more simply put, surface features in the shape of the specimens that match other specimens most closely.

I spent many hours visually comparing the fossil skulls and skeletal remains of hominids from the earliest ancestors in Africa, through later-dated discoveries in Europe and Asia, using hard-copy books and online resources. A resource that was particularly helpful is the new 3D CG library complied by the Smithsonian Institute, with which the computer-scanned reconstructions of fossil skulls can be viewed from virtually any angle.[1]
I also reviewed the scientific literature for other possible correlations, such as the ranges of time the fossil records span, and other incidentals such as the height and physical characteristics of the species. What I was looking for was traits that I have observed myself, and that were also reported by innumerable eyewitness accounts.
The results of this study is that I have found a type of hominin that has very close morphological elements in both the unique structure of the cranium and the large, robust skeletal structure. The estimated time-span covered in the fossil record also correlates with the currently accepted theory of migrations of hominins out of Africa into Eurasia and eventually into the western hemisphere.
The specimen that is illustrated above (the picture can be enlarged by clicking on it), is notable in that it was found in 1921 by Tom Zwiglar, near what is now Kabwe, Zambia. It was first known as "Rhodesia Man" after the former name of the post-colonial country. This specimen has many intriguing and significant elements. Dated at 30,000 to 100,000 years ago, it has a curious combination of both ancient and modern characteristics. The ancient features include a prominent brow ridge and a significantly prominent ridge crest along the top of the cranium, and two perpendicular ridges that run up from the sides, forming a distinctive cone-like peak at the top of the skull. Both the prominent, protruding brow and the coned cranium are often cited in reports of Sasquatch sightings. I can attest to having observed these features as well. However, there are also more modern elements in the Kabwe specimen. such as the volume of
the brain-case which, at 1300 cc., is within the range of modern humans. The profile of the face is also flatter than more ancient specimens and has the structural support for the cartilage that would form a projecting or "hooded" nose with downward facing nostrils, more similar to the modern human than the ape.
Another remarkable feature of Kabwe Man is that there is an enlarged projecting feature (the occipital torus) at the rear base of the skull, which serves as a robust support for the connecting muscles of the trapesius group. This is a trait in common with another very noticeable feature of the Sasquatch or Bigfoot- high shoulders that slope up to the base of the skull, lending an appearance of having "no neck", as it is often reported.
The eye sockets, or ocular orbits of the Kabwe specimen are also larger, rounder and more widely spaced than those of modern humans. This feature could be evidence of an adaptation to low-light environments, such as a nocturnal or crepuscular (foraging at dawn and dusk) basis of activity. The Sasquatch is considered by most researchers to be mainly nocturnal or crepuscular, depending on the geographic region.
One of the aspects of the Sasquatch or Bigfoot that is difficult to conceive is the exceptional height and body mass- typically reported as between seven and ten feet tall and weighing in excess of 500 lbs. Does Kabwe Man have any traits that correlate with this size? The surprising answer is, yes. Professor Lee R. Berger of the University of Witwatersrand, extrapolating measurements from the bone fragments of numerous individuals, estimates that many of them were "giants" typically over 7 ft (2.13 m) tall. [2]
Kabwe Man has been classified as a specimen of Homo Heidelbergenis, fossils of which have been discovered in Europe and Asia as well as in Africa. (The oldest fossil cranium was discovered in Italy and dated at about one million years old) Most of the fossils, however, are dated to the Middle Pleistocene, about 780 to 126 thousand years ago. Hiedelbergensians have notable morphological traits that differentiate them from both the earlier Homo Ergaster and the later Homo Neanderthalensis. However there are also discernible differences between Heidelbergensians from different geographical regions that suggest an ability to interbreed with related subspecies of hominins. This type of hybridizing ability has been also established, through genetic studies, in the Neanderthals, who share DNA with modern humans of Eurasian origins. The import of this is that the Heidlebergensians could be either the ancestors, or a closely related subspecies, of the same hominins as the Sasquatch or Bigfoot that inhabit North America today.
Another important aspect that is currently being researched is the apparent capability of speech in the Sasquatch, or Bigfoot. Sound recordings dating back as far as the 1970's have provided evidence of complex vocalizations that follow patterns similar to those found in human languages. The significant correlation in the fossil record is that H.Heildelbergensis also had the hyoid bone as part of the structure of the larynx. The hyoid is a roughly horseshoe-shaped bone that is crititcal for the formulation of distinct syllables and enunciated words.[3] The hyoid bone in H.Hiedelbergensis is another feature possibly in common with the Sasquatch.
Though the exact origins of the Sasquatch at present is hypothetical, it is imperative that extensive nuclear DNA sequencing be performed on the currently available, vetted samples collected by researchers throughout North America. By sequencing the entire genome of even a few individuals, we will obtain vital clues as to the origin of Man, and knowledge that may help us with medical advances and genetic therapies. Any serious professional in the fields of anthropology or biology should recognize that we have the opportunity for investigating what will certainly be one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the 21st century.

No comments:

Post a Comment

This blog does NOT allow anonymous comments. All comments are moderated to filter out abusive and vulgar language and any posts indulging in abusive and insulting language shall be deleted without any further discussion.

Popular Posts

In order to be fair and have more choices, there are now two Popular Posts lists: the first one is for the last 30 days and the second one is for all-time favorites. Some posts may appear on both lists temporarily.

Associated Sites

Disclaimer

In Accordance with Title 17 USC Section 107, any copyright material on display here is under Fair Use without any claim of ownership or any profit accrued by the display. The Material herein is for non-profit educational or criticism puposes only. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 106 and 106a, the fair use of a copyrighted work including reproduction and distribution of said material as specified in that section, for purposes of education, news reporting, commentary or criticism, scholarship or research, to persons who have expressed a prior interest in receiving such material for such purposes, is NOT an infringement.